Playwright and screenwriter Moira Buffini makes her young adult debut with Songlight (Faber) In a post-apocalyptic future an advanced form of telepathy has emerged; anyone found with this sixth sense, however, is hunted and persecuted as an “unhuman”. Kaira and Elsa have lived their lives in great danger, concealing their abilities in order to survive, but when they connect telepathically an extraordinary bond is formed. Echoing dystopian classics from John Wyndham to Margaret Atwood, this is rich and immersive storytelling, playing out against a turbulent backdrop of war and power.
The post-Heartstopper boom in young adult graphic novels continues. American creator Molly Knox Ostertag captured some of those feelgood vibes in her bestselling The Girl from the Sea but explores a more complex story of self-acceptance in The Deep Dark (Scholastic). Magdalena Herrera is tied to her home town, not only by caring responsibilities but by a terrible family secret in her basement. When an old friend returns, she begins to imagine a different future and a queer love story slowly evolves. The intense emotions of teenage life are skilfully reflected in Ostertag’s shifting colour palette. Utterly compelling.
